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PROTECT OUR ISLANDS

National and Inter-Island Biosecurity and Early Detection/Rapid Response

Biosecurity is the first line of defence against invasive species arriving and establishing in a new destination. Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) preparation is a key initiative of the Programme. EDRR is enabled by the creation of response plans, training and procurement of equipment. Critical to the success of EDRR is the support of the community and other stakeholders through ongoing engagement, regular simulation exercises, and greater public awareness to maintain fast responses to incursions.

LEADING TECHNICAL PARTNERS

Pacific Biosecurity

Pacific Biosecurity is the lead PRISMSS technical partner for this regional programme with support from the Pacific Community (SPC). Established in 2013, Pacific Biosecurity is an initiative of Victoria Link Ltd based at Victoria University of Wellington. The Pacific Biosecurity team has extensive experience and success in collaborating with regional organisations and in-country partners to enhance people's environmental well-being through conservation and pest / invasive species prevention and management throughout the Pacific. The Pacific Biosecurity Unit has been working on the research and management of invasive ants and biosecurity in the Pacific for over 15 years. Countries have included Samoa, Kiribati, Tuvalu, French Polynesia and Tokelau.

SPC is the region’s mandated coordinator for national biosecurity and leads representation of the region at international levels. Founded in 1947, SPC provides in-depth support for the mandated in-country biosecurity teams through the Pacific Plant Protection Organisation (PPPO) and works closely with National Plant Protection Officers (NPPOs).The Pacific Community (SPC), Land Resources Division (LRD) Biosecurity and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) team works collaboratively with the National Plant Protection Organizations’ (NPPO’s) in the PICT’s in the region in regards to national Biosecurity legislation, Pest Risk and Import Risk Assessments, Biosecurity surveillance, early detection and response, National Reporting Obligations (NRO’s) on Sanitary capturing both terrestrial and aquatic species and Phytosanitary (Plant pest and diseases) issues.

The SPC Biosecurity team also assist member countries in plant pest and diseases surveillance in which all authenticated identifications are logged into to the Pest List Database (PLD), with the approvals from relevant NPPO’s. The team also assists countries with Pest Risk Assessments (PRA’s) that are used for Market access requests and Import Risk Assessments (IRA’s) to develop Import conditions to help address biosecurity threats linked to imports. The team also carries out capacity building for NPPO’s on Pre-border, Border and Post Border activities and how to do assessments and relevant biosecurity treatments to address these biosecurity transboundary risks. The PPPO secretariat is housed within the SPC LRD Biosecurity team and it also represents PPPO members to the RPPO, IPPC and OIE international bodies.